Underwater utility tool

ABSTRACT

A UTILITY TOOL AND HOLDER THEREFOR, SUCH TOOL BEING PARTICULARLY SUITABLE FOR UNDERWATER USE AND INCLUDING A KNIFE BLADE HAVING AN EXTENSIBLE PICK ON ITS BUTT END WITH A HANDLE SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE BLASE, SUCH HANDLE BEING LATCHABLE IN ALTERNATE POSITIONS, IN ONE POSITION THE TOOL BEING USABLE AS A KNIFE WHILE IN THE OTHER AS A PICK OR HAMMER.

June 1, 1971 HAYES 3,581,326

UNDERWATER UTILITY TOOL Filed May 15, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ROBERT R. HAYES ATTORNEYS June 1, 1971 R. R. HAYES 3,581,32fi

UNDERWATER UTILITY TOOL Filed ma 15. 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR l lll' ROBERT R. HAYES ,9 f J AiTORNEYS United States Patent 3,581,326 UNDERWATER UTILITY TOOL Robert R. Hayes, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to John L. Fuller and Associates, Cleveland, Ohio Filed May 15, 1969, Ser. No. 824,796 Int. Cl. B25f 1/02 US. Cl. 7-8.1 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A utility tool and holder therefor, such tool being particularly suitable for underwater use and including a knife blade having an extensible pick on its butt end with a handle slidably mounted on the blade, such handle being latchable in alternate positions, in one position the tool being usable as a knife while in the other as a pick or hammer.

This invention relates generally as indicated to an underwater utility tool and more particularly to a diving knife and scabbard therefor, such knife being usable as a knife or alternatively as a pick or hammer.

Underwater swimmers often carry with them diving knives and some knives include hammer heads built into a fixed handle. The blades of such knives are often used as picks for collecting underwater specimens. However, knife blades when so used often snap in that they are really not suitable for such purpose.

Also, scabbards for diving knives, which are usually strapped to the lower leg, are usually constructed in such a manner that upon repeated use, the knife can fall out and be lost. Moreover, since most underwater swimmers wear relatively bulky gloves, it is often difficult to remove the knife from the scabbard as well as replace it.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide an underwater utility tool easily convertible to and from use as a knife or a pick.

It is also a principal object of this invention to provide an underwater utility tool easily convertible to and from use as a knife or hammer.

Another principal object is the provision of a scabbard for such tool having a cover permitting ready access to the tool yet maintaining the tool securely in the scabbard.

Another object is the provision of a diving knife having a handle slidable along the blade and latchable in alternative positions.

Still another object is the provision of a diving knife having an extensible pick head on its butt end with the knife handle being shiftable along the blade and latched in alternate positions so that the knife may be used as such or as a pick or hammer.

Still another object is the provision of such diving knife wherein the extensible pick head in its collapsed position forms a portion of a protective shield for the hand of the user.

Yet another object is the provision of a simplified and economical underwater utility tool and scabbard therefor permitting the user to perform a Wide variety of operations.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative,

3,58l,326 Patented June l, 1971 however, of but a few of the vanous ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a utility tool in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the tool as seen from the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the tool as seen from the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 2 showing the handle latched in the alternative position and the pick extended;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal fragmentary section through the knife handle illustrating the latch in open position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of a scabbard for the tool illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section of the scabbard taken substantially on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section similar to FIG. 7 showing the cover in its open position; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the scabbard.

Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, it will be seen that the diving knife or underwater utility tool comprises a blade 11) which is joined at its butt end to head 11. The butt end 12 of the blade fits within slot 13 in the head 11 and the blade and head are secured together as by the weldment indicated at 14.

The blade 10 includes a cutting edge 16 extending from the point 17 to the point or tip of the knife blade 18. The opposite edge of the knife may be provided with a serrated cutting edge indicated at 19. The back or ridge of the knife is provided with a longitudinal top guide groove 21 accommodating guide roller 22 journalled in the handle 23. The groove and roller serve as a retainer to prevent inadvertent disassembly of the knife and handle. It will, of course, be appreciated that a blade or sliding key may be used in a complementary groove in lieu of the roller illustrated. A lateral face of the blade is provided with semi-circular indentations indicated at 24 and 25 cooperating with the handle latch member 26, seen perhaps more clearly in FIG. 5.

The handle assembly 23 is provided with a central longitudinal slot accommodating the blade 10 so that the handle assembly may be moved longitudinally of the blade 10 with the roller 22 moving in the groove 21. The handle assembly 23 includes a leaf spring member 29 which may be secured adjacent the slot by flat head screw 30. The distal end of the spring 29 is bifurcated as indicated at 31 and has pin-connected thereto at 32 the latch member 26. The spring 29 urges with a predetermined spring force the pin connection 32 and thus latch member 26 toward the slot 28 or the blade 10 situated therein. The latch lever 26 includes a latching element 34, which when in the open position seen in FIG. 5, clear the blade 10 so that the handle assembly may be moved longitudinally of such blade. When in latching position, the element 34 is in indentation 24 or 25 and over center of pivot 32, being held in such position by the pressure of spring 29.

The handle assembly includes a slot 35 accommodating the latching lever 26 in such latching position to hold the handle assembly in such alternative positions along the blade 10. As a safety feature, the latching lever includes a ditsal projection 36 having a shoulder 37 frictionally engaging the head 11 when the lever is in its closed or locking position with the handle in its FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 position. The lever 26 cannot assume: the closed or locking position unless the latching projection 34 fits Within either the indentation 25 or 24. The head 11 is provided with a lateral slot 40 which is a continuation of the slot 35 accommodating the lever 26 in its closed position. The lever 26 in its closed position is a substantial surface continuation of the handle 23.

The body of the handle assembly 23 may be molded from a suitable plastic material such as ABS, nylon, vinyl or like material. The slot 28 accommodating the knife blade may be chamfered at its one end as indicated at 41 to accommodate the weldment 14 when the handle assembly is in the position seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The handle assembly also includes a guard element 43 at its one end which is bent as indicated at 44 terminating in shouldered edge 45.

The head 11 includes a main body portion 47 which includes a curved inner face 48 of the same surface configuration as the end surface 49 of the handle assembly 23. One end of the main body portion 47 is provided with head 50 while the opposite end is provided with a central slot 51 in which is pivoted pick extension 52. A roll pin 53 may be employed for pivotally connecting the main body portion to the pick extension. The head portion 47 includes an inwardly offset knuckle portion indicated at 54 through which the roll pin extends. The pick extension 52 includes a center portion 55 which includes an edge surface 56 which in the extended position of the pick abuts against the surface 57 providing a positive stop. In the retracted position of the pick extension, the shoulder indicated at 58 abuts against the shoulder 59 on the head portion 47. This maintains the pick extension in the collapsed or folded position seen in phantom lines in FIG. 4 at 60 or in full lines in FIG. 2. In such position, the tip 61 of the pick fits on the shoulder 45 of the guard 43 to complete a handle guard for the handle assembly when the assembly is in the full line position seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The pick extension can readily be moved about the roll pin pivot to the extended position and it will remain in such position when the tool is used as a pick.

It can now be seen that the utility tool may be used either in the FIG. 2 position as a knife or in the FIG. 4 position as a pick. This may readily be accomplished by releasing the latch lever 26 and sliding the handle assembly along the knife blade and latching the same in the position shown in FIG. 4. The latch lever 26 is swung away from the handle assembly for release of the handle from the blade for sliding movement therealong and is pivoted back to a position flush with the handle assembly to re-engage or secure the handle assembly with respect to the blade. In the alternative positions the latching element 34 of the latching lever 26 will fit either in the notch 24 or in the notch 25. When in the position shown in FIG. 4, the pick extension will be swung about the roll pin pivot to the extended position so that the tool may be used as a pick. When in the collapsed position of the pick extension, the flush surface 65 of both the head and such pick extension may be used as a hammer head. The handle ,of course, will be in the FIG. 4 position.

When in the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shoulder 37 on the latching lever 26 will assist the lever in being retained in its latching position. When the operator grips the handle assembly 23, the lever 26 forms a flush continuation of the handle. The projection of the latching lever 26 beyond the head 11 permits the same readily to be opened for shifting of the handle along the blade by the user underwater. Thus there is provided a utility tool or diving knife which can readily be converted from the knife shown in FIG. 2 wherein the pick extension forms a part of the handle guard to a hammer or pick assembly as seen in FIG. 4. The guard 43 still protects at least to a certain degree the hand of the user. In such position, as seen in FIG. 4, the sharp edges of the knife blade are substantially completely enclosed within the handle assembly 23.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 9, it will be seen that the utility tool is carried by the user when in the knife condition such as seen in FIG. 2. The scabbard or carrier for the tool shown generally at 70 includes a main body portion 71 and a hinged top or cover 72. The main body portion 71 includes a necked down or shoulder portion 83, the lower portion 74, of which encloses the blade 10 while the upper portion 75 encloses the handle assembly and guard. The top of the main body portion is provided with a beaded edge indicated at 76 which substantially completely surrounds the top access opening 77 to the scabbard. The scabbard may be formed of a suitable plastic material such as ABS or vinyl and projecting integrally from the rear or interior side of the main body portion are projections or stanchions indicated at 79 and 80 having angularly related surfaces seen at 81 and 82, respectively, which are adapted to fit against the upper calf of leg 83 of the user. Such projections thus space the scab bard from the leg of the user and the scabbard may be secured to such leg by the straps 85 and 86 which extend through the slots 87 and 88 in the lateral walls of the projections.

Referring now to FIG. 9, it will be seen that the back of the scabbard adjacent the top opening is provided with triangular hinge plate 90 secured to the scabbard sheath by three fasteners such as rivets indicated at 91, 92 and 93. The latter fastener 93 also extends through the lower end of an upstanding spring plate 94. The extreme lower end of the spring 94 is bent beneath the lower edge of the hinge plate 90 as seen at 95.

The top of the hinge plate is provided with hinge knuckles seen at 96 and 97 through which project the ends of hinge pin 98. Such hinge pin includes a center offset portion secured to the interior of the cover 72 as seen perhaps more clearly in FIG. 8 at 99. The cover is of quite rigid material and includes an upstanding tab or projection 101 of the same height as the spring 94 when the cover is in the closed position. The upper end of the spring thus bears against such projection resiliently maintaining the cover closed as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7.

When the user Wishes to open the cover, he simply inserts the tips of his fingers into the opening 102 between the edge 103 of the cover 72 and the bead 76 to lift the cover in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 7 about the hinge pin 98. This overcomes the pressure of the spring 94 tending to hold the cover closed and the cover can be swung to the position seen in FIG. 8. In such position, the top edge 103 of the cover has cleared the top of the main body portion of the scabbard permitting the utility tool to be pulled directly vertically out. Also in such open position, the tab 101 engages the spring 94 at 105 while the upper tip of the spring engages the top of the cover at 106. The cover is thus resiliently held in its open position. This is accomplished by the tab 101 swinging over center of the pin pivot 98 and the direction of force applied by the spring 94. When the cover is Open, it will fit in its open position adjacent the knee and may be retained in such position until the utility tool is replaced in the scabbard or holder.

It can now be seen that there is provided a unique utility tool or diving knife and holder therefor, such utility tool being readily convertible to or from a knife and a hammer or pick.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A utility tool particularly for underwater use comprising a knife blade with a pick head on the butt end, a handle mounted for sliding movement on said blade, and means operative to latch said handle in alternative positions for use as a knife or pick.

2. A utility tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pick head includes a pivotally mounted extension.

3. A utility tool as set forth in claim 2 wherein said extension in retracted position forms with said head a hammer head.

4. A utility tool as set forth in claim 2 wherein said handle includes a hand guard, said extension forming a continuation of said guard in retracted position.

5. A utility tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said last mentioned means includes a latching lever pivotally mounted on said handle.

6. A utility tool as set forth in claim 5 wherein said lever includes a latching element cooperating with spaced indentations in the blade.

7. A utility tool as set forth in claim 5 wherein the pivot of said lever is resiliently urged toward said blade.

8. A utility tool as set forth in claim 5 wherein said lever is pivoted to the distal end of a spring element urging such pivot toward the blade.

9. A utility tool as set forth in claim 5 wherein said lever in latching position lies along said handle and flush therewith.

10. A utility tool as set forth in claim 9 wherein the distal end of said lever in latching position projects be yond the end of said head.

11. A utility tool as set forth in claim 10 wherein the distal end of said lever includes a frictional interference with said head.

12. A diving knife comprising a blade having a cutting edge on one end and a pick head on the opposite end, a handle mounted for sliding movement on said blade, and means to shift and lock said handle along said blade to facilitate alternative use of the cutting blade and pick head.

13. A diving knife as set forth in claim 12 including a spring loaded latch on said handle operative to lock said handle in alternative positions on said blade.

14. A diving knife as set forth in claim 12' including roller and groove means operative to maintain said blade and handle assembled.

15. A diving knife as set forth in claim 12 wherein said pick head includes a pivotally mounted extension.

16. A diving knife as set forth in claim 15 wherein said extension in retracted position forms with said head a hammer head.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,185,250 5/1916 Seelye 716 2,695,450 11/1954 Platts 78.1X

TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X..R. 

